Pet Grooming in Santa Monica

Santa Monica's groomers range from neighborhood salons and pet-store grooming counters to mobile vans that come to your door. A full groom usually covers a bath, haircut, nail trim and ear cleaning; most groomers also offer bath-only visits, de-shedding and quick tidy-ups between full grooms.

Your dog's license

Santa Monica licenses dogs through its own Animal Control section and animal shelter. The City's pet licensing page says you need a current rabies vaccine record for each dog and proof of spay or neuter status to qualify for the lower fee, and that under the municipal code licenses expire on December 31 of the current year, whenever you buy them. The Santa Monica Animal Shelter is at 1640 9th Street. California law, as San Diego Humane Society summarizes it (Health and Safety Code section 121690), requires dogs to be vaccinated against rabies and licensed within 30 days after reaching four months of age. Groomers will ask for rabies proof too.

A county checklist for groomers

Los Angeles County's animal care department says the county code sets conditions for groomers, including mobile groomers. Whether or not it applies to a groomer in Santa Monica, it makes a good checklist: a groomer should talk through your dog's health and temperament before starting, and fully enclosed cage dryers with heating elements and no safety vents are prohibited under that code. Ask a groomer how they dry dogs.

Heat and hot pavement

During an August 2025 heat wave, Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control urged owners to walk dogs in the early morning or late evening, keep them off hot pavement that could burn their paws, and never leave a pet in a parked car, even with the windows cracked. It also warned that short-muzzled dogs such as Boxers, Pugs and French Bulldogs are particularly vulnerable to heat stroke. Book warm-weather appointments early in the day, and for double-coated breeds such as huskies and shepherds, ask for a de-shed rather than a shave.

Canine flu

In a March 2026 advisory, Los Angeles County Public Health reported an April 2025 canine influenza (H3N2) outbreak at a boarding facility in the county, and recommended that dogs be fully vaccinated against it before entering boarding kennels, dog daycare or dog parks. Ask your vet whether the flu shot makes sense for your dog, and ask a groomer whether they separate dogs that are coughing.

Before the first appointment

• Tell the groomer about your dog's health, age and temperament.
• Ask how dogs are dried; if a cage dryer is used, someone should check the dog often.
• Ask which vaccines they require, and reschedule if your dog is coughing.
• If the coat is badly matted, ask about a short clip rather than hours of brushing out.
• Ask how long the groomer has worked and whether they groom your breed often.

About these listings

Many listings here were added from public business data and have not been claimed by the business yet. Check hours, prices and services with the groomer directly. If you run one of these businesses, you can claim or correct your listing from its page.